Life preserver and method of making same



July 13, 1965 J. K. COOLIDGE LIFE PRESERVER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Original Filed March 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. dOH/V K. COOL/06f y 1965 J. K. COOLIDGE 3,193,856

LIFE PRESERVER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Original Filed March 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO day/v K cool/06%- ,4 770F445 VJ United States Patent 3,fi9$,356 LEFE PRESERVER AND METHQE 0F MAKENG SAME John K. Coolidge, Grand iiiapids, Mich, assignor to The Gunn Company, incorporated, Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Original application Mar. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 177,633, now Patent No. 3,125,771, dated Mar. 24, 1964 Divided and this application Aug. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 3tl1,23 6 Qiaims. (Cl. 9-337) This application is a division of my co-pending United States patent application Serial No. 177,083, filed March 2, 1962, now Patent No. 3,125,771, and entitled Life Preserver and Method of Making Same.

This invention relates to a life preserver and a method of making a life preserver. More particularly, this invention relates to both a unique type of life preserver and a unique method for attaching a strap thereto for securing the life preserver to a persons body.

Many types of life preservers are presently in existence, both of the variety which straps around the users waist and the variety that fits around the users neck which is usually in the form of a vest. Many of these life preservers are excessively cumbersome and bulky, causing discomfort and loss of freedom to maneuver when skiing and the like. This being the case, life preservers are often not worn when necessary.

Further, the straps with which one secures these life preservers to his body are sewn or stitched on the preserver itself, or some sort of means is sewn or stitched on the preserver to retain the strap. This is an added step in the fabrication of life preservers and consequently raises their cost. Further, such securing of straps often results in tearing of material, the life preserver being either less efiicient or completely useless when the strap for holding it on does not function properly.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved life preserver which is less bulky and therefore less cumbersome in use. The principles of this invention may be embodied in either a life preserver to be worn about ones waist or about ones neck. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide such a life preserver with an improved strap for connecting the preserver to the users body, the strap at all times being tightly associated with the life preserver.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such a life preserver having a strap as described, the connection between the strap and the life preserver being such that relative movement at connection points is provided, thereby eliminating excess tension on the connection points when the life preserver is bent or moved.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such a life preserver which more naturally conforms to the users body, thus giving greater comfort and freedom of movement.

A still further object of this invention is the teaching of a method of making such a life preserver including the advantages noted.

An additional object of this invention is the teaching of a method of securing a strap to a life preserver for securing it to a users body.

These and further objects of this invention will become obvious to those skilled in the relative arts upon reading the following specification, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a strip of material providing buoyancy to a life preserver embodying the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the manner in "ice which one of the initial steps of fabricating one embodimerit of this life preserver is performed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the results after the step of the method described in PKG. 2 is performed;

FIG. 4 is a front view, showing the next step of said method;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the following step of said method;

FIG. 6 is a front view similar to FIG. 5;

PEG. 7 is a front view showing the completed life pre server made in accordance with said method;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane VIIIVHI of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, perspective View of the strap connection at the left side of the preserver as shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, perspective view of the strap connection at the right side of the preserver as shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a life preserver utilizing the principles of this.

invention.

Briefly, this invention relates to a method of fabricating a life preserver consisting of the steps of providing an elongated strip of flexible foam material and forming at least two openings therethrough. An elongated strap for securing the life preserver to a persons body is provided and a ring is positioned in each of the openings formed in the strip. The strap is positioned around the strip, and passed through the rings. The strap is then drawn tight and affixed in position with a means on the strap which is characterized by allowing the strap to be drawn through a buckle from only one direction.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates an elongated strip of foam material which comprises the core of a life preserver made in accordance with this invention. This core may be formed of foam polyvinyl chloride which has been found to exhibit excellent durability characteristics. However, a less expensive core formed of polyurethane could also be utilized without departing from the scope of this invention. FlG. 7 shows a life preserver A made in accordance with this invention which fits around the neck of the user and PEG. 11 shows a life preserver B made in accordance with this invention which is adapted to be positioned about the users waist. The life preserver A shown in PEG. 7 and the method of forming it will now be first described in detail.

In the embodiment shown, the strip I. is of a height greater than its width (H6. 1). Openings 2 and 3 are first formed through the strip 1, generally adjacent the ends 4 and 5 thereof. The foam strip l is then positioned to form an arc of a circle as shown in FIG. 2, and a portion thereof sliced away along a plane surface from generally the center of one of its edges, as shown by the reference numeral 6. Ply thus positioning the strip 1, and slicing the material along a plane, a depressed neck pocket '7 is formed as shown in FIG. 3. The ends 4 and 5 are next positioned adjacent one another as shown in FIG. 4, a small pin 8 being force... into the ends 4 and 5 to hold them in the position shown. A hanger element 9, including barbs it? and 11 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is then positioned at what is generally the center of gravity of the strip when bent as shown in FIG. 4. One of the barbs it and ll of the hanger element 9 is inserted in each side of the bent strip as shown in FIG. 6. This causes the bent strip to be formed as shown in HQ. 5 because of its own weight. Next, being suspended by the hanger element 9, the bent strip is dipped into a suitable solution for coating it. It

'sons body is then attached to the preserver.

has been found that dipping the strip three times into a areasse White vinyl solution produces an excellent coating. Upon a being so dipped and left to hang in generally the position shown in FIG. 5, the strip assumes the shape shown as the vinyl solution dries and sets. Further, with the ends 4 and positioned adjacent one another when the clipping occurs, the coating when setting actually causesthese ends to adhere to one another in the position shown.

An elongated strap for securing this preserver to a per- This is accomplished without the use of sewing or stitching of any kind. A ring 15 isfirst positioned ineach of the openings 2 and 3 (1 163.7 and 8); The strap, designated as a whole by the reference. numeral 16, is positioned about the ends 4 and 5, of the formed strip l. A section 16a of the strap 16 is threaded through each of the rings 15 within the openings 2 and 3, and is secured to a pair of buckles 17 and 18 positioned at the sidesof the formed life preserver. One end of the strap 16 is folded upon itself and sewn together at lih'forming a plural thickness and additionally holding attachment rings 29 thereto; The strap 16 includes a second portion 21 folded upon itself and secured together to form a plural thickness, the purpose of which will now be explained. The strap 16 is threaded through the buckle 17 and pulled through the buckle until further movement is prevented because of the plural thickness of the. strap-at 19. The strap 15 is then threaded through each of the rings 15 as shown; Next,

the strap 16 is threaded through the buckle l8, and due tothe positioning of the folds at 21 this is possible. However, once the area 21 is through the buckle l3,the folds are position-ed such that retraction ofthe strap is impossible. it will nowbe undersood that the spacing of the areas of plural thickness are predetermined so that the strap fits snugly about the preserver. the strap to the life preserver A, one merely threads'tlie strap 16 through the buckles 17 and 18 as described.

Itshould be noted that the rings 15 may be positioned on the small section of the strap 16a, and the buckles secured thereto as shown, in a prior operation. Thus, itv

will be obvious that mere positioning of the small strap Thus, in securing la against the ends 4 and 5 of the formed-lifepreserver as shown, the rings 15 lying within the openings 2 and 3,

the strap 16 may be secured thereto by merely threading it through the buckles 1'7 and 18. It should further be specifically noted that'the strap 16a may be eliminated by securing one end of a single strap' to the buckle 18 as described, then threading it through the rings 15 along the topside of the life preserver as shown in FIG. 8. The strap can then be threaded through one side of'the buckle 17, the attachment rings 23 slipped thereon, and the strap then threaded through the'bottom side of the buckle 1'7 and'the bottoms of rings-15 as viewed in FIG. 8. in this instance, only the folded over' portion or area 2llwould be necessary to hold the strap in position after it has been threaded through the buckle 13.

It will be noted that-by using this method, the strap is attached to the life preserver A without the use of actual stitching through the life preserveror without the use of any rigid attachment to the life preserver itself. 'This greatly simplifies the actual assembly and fabricatio'n of the life preserverz. However, and still 'more important,

is the fact that the strap is provided with a completely even distribution'of-tension with respect to the 'preserver itself. openings 2 and 3, the life preserver may be bent or moved and adjustment is made of the pull on the strap because of movement of the rings. Further, actual assembly is accomplished by merely threading the strap as described,

no other securing operationbeing necessary.

' It will be noted that the life pieserver Ais slim and Since the rings '15 can move freely'within the upwardly when on the users body, making a secure fit aboutthe neck. g

In FIG. 11, an alternativeembodiment of a life preserver assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention is shown'and designated by the letter B. The life preserver B is adapted to. be secured about its users waist and againincludes a strip of foam material, preferably vinyl covered, designated by the reference numeral 30. A. plurality of openings '31 are formed along the length of this strip of material and a ring 32 is positioned within each of the openings 31. Astrap 33 .is secured about the strip 30 in the same manner asdesc ribed hereinbefore, either bymeans of an elongated strap threaded through the rings 15 together with a smaller auxiliary strap, or by means of a-single strap as described. It will be noted that the even distribution ofnpull' on the strap provided by this assembly is especially advantageous in this embodiment since the preserver is bent to envelop its users'waist. Due to the freedom of movement of the rings '32 within the openings 31, bending this life preserver into a circle doesnot increase tension at fixed points of attachment. Consequently, not only is such a life preserver easier to fabricate,it also function-s better to produce a longer-lasting, more positively operating preserver.

While only certain embodiments of this invention-have been shown and described in detail, it may be possible to practice this invention through the utilization of certain other embodiments Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. .Such' other. embodiments are to be inclucled as part of this invention unless the -followingclaims specifically state otherwise.

Iclaimn LA method of fabricating a .life preserver, consisting in the .stepsof providing anelongated {strip of flexible foam material; cutting a portion of an edge from said strip from generally its center; positioning said ends of said strip together; and providing means proximate said ends of said'strip for securing the life prcserver to apersonsbody. V 1 v 2. A method of fabricating a lifepre'server, consisting in the stepsofgproviding an elongated strip of flexible foam material; cutting a portion of an edge from "said strip from generally its center; positioning said ends of said strip together; dipping lsaidstrip in a vinyl solution; and providing. means proximate said ends of said strip for securing the life preserver to a persons body.

3. A'method of fabricating ,a life preserver, consisting in the steps of providing an elongated'strip generally reca 'tangular in cross section of flexible foam material; cutting flexible foam material formed 'to lie around the users neck and having a pair of depending legs; means associated with said legs for securing theilife preservertoa persons body; and a portion of the inside edge of said strip removed from generally its center.

' f 5. ,A life 'preserver, comprisingz an elongated strip of from generally its centerl 1 6. A life gpreserver, comprising: an elongated strip of flexible'foam material bent to liearound ,the users neck,- forming a pair of dependinglegs; means associated with said legs forsecuringthe life preserve r'to apersons body; and a portion .of the inside edge of said stripremoved flexible foam-material bent :to lie aroundthe .user.s :neck',

tapered to the users body. Further, complete comfort is given to the neck due to the recess 7. In order to draw the life preserver tightly about the users neck, a second strapZS is slipped about the lifepreserver,to be drawn forming 'a pair ofrdepiending rlegs; straps associated with said legs for securing the life preserverito a personsbody;

and a portion'of the inside edge of saidstrip removed from generally its center.

(References on following :page) I 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner 2,621,342 12/52 Boyle 9336 X NIT D TATES PATENTS 2,950,489 8/60 PflttiSOIl 9- U E S 3,037,220 6/62 Jantzen 9-338 X 1,435,588 11/22 cullomer 9- 3 094 725 3 Martin 9 34() 1,850,660 3/32 Coppel 9337 X 5 ""f'" 2,210,809 8/40 Gray 5 FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Exammer.

2,508,303 5/50 Sturtevant 9-338 X MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF FABRICATING A LIFE PRESERVER, CONSISTING IN THE STEPS OF PROVIDING AN ELONGATED STRIP OF FLEXIBLE FOAM MATERIAL; CUTTING A PORTION OF AN EDGE FROM SAID STRIP FROM GENERALLY ITS CENTER; POSITIONING SAID ENDS OF SAID STRIP TOGETHER; AND PROVIDING MEANS PROXIMATE SAID ENDS OF SAID STRIP FOR SECURING THE LIFE PRESERVER TO A PERSON''S BODY. 